Cold vs. Hot Imaging

[aladdin]

Originally Posted by Sully

I replied to a thread here a couple years ago about how to get the macrium plugin to work in a win7rescuePE project, if you ever want to try it yourself I would recommend finding that thread. I am pretty sure it covered everything you would need to know.

Sul.

Dearest Sul.

I found the thread, which is here:

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=258152

I will look into it in few days or so.

Again many thanks!

Best regards,

KOR!

[Sully]

@KOR

Try these threads out. You might go into overload

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=270545
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=256611

Sul.

[Hugger]

Forgive me for being somewhat dumber than a stone, but I'd like to clarify the options.

By cold image, pre-boot environment, do you mean using an ISO disk to boot the pc and then be able to revert to a working image?

By hot image, from within the OS, do you mean going to the imaging program and restoring an image without needing the ISO disc?

If the above are correct, then what happens to the hot image when the system becomes so corrupt that you can't access the program?
Thanks for your patience.
Hugger

[Sully]

IDK what everyone else means, but I only consider the creation of images as hot or cold. To me, all restorations of the system image (the OS drive) are to be done in a recovery environment. Restoration of a partition, either way.

So in my case, as long as I have my PE disc, it will never be an issue.

Sul.

[blacknight]

Cold imaging, taking the disk image saved in an external support.

[Aaron Here]

Originally Posted by Hugger

By cold image, pre-boot environment, do you mean using an ISO disk to boot the pc and then be able to revert to a working image?

'Cold' means booting up with a Floppy, CD/DVD, or USB Flash Drive (or using Brian's method) into a DOS, Linux or Win/Bart PE environment and from there running the imaging program.

Originally Posted by Hugger

By hot image, from within the OS, do you mean going to the imaging program and restoring an image without needing the ISO disc?

'Hot' means creating the imaging program from within Windows, just like you typically run your other apps. Image restoration of the system drive/partition must always be done via a cold method. While some programs allow you to initiate the restore from within Windows, they then reboot into a cold enviroment in order to actually do the restore!

Originally Posted by Hugger

If the above are correct, then what happens to the hot image when the system becomes so corrupt that you can't access the program?

It's too late then to backup - that's the time to restore your most current image via one of the cold methods mentioned above!

Hth,
Aaron

[nisby79]

for me cold imaging is the more reliable method

[siberianwolf]

cold is the way. just like siberian winds.

[The Shadow]

I just happened upon this past poll and I'm amazed as to how many of you here use cold-imaging! Is it truly more reliable than hot-imaging?

TS

[treehouse786]

i use both methods and have never had a failure with either (using Active@ disk image)

[Amit]

I use hot imaging.

[Tomwa]

I voted but accidentally chose the wrong option (It's early and I'm tired), I use hot imaging as it has never failed me before and most of my data is already redundant so I see no reason to add another maintenance step when backup is already handled flawlessly.

[Amit]

Originally Posted by Tomwa

I voted but accidentally chose the wrong option (It's early and I'm tired), I use hot imaging as it has never failed me before and most of my data is already redundant so I see no reason to add another maintenance step when backup is already handled flawlessly.

What imaging software do you use to make those hot images?

[tgell]

I voted for hot-imaging because I only use that now. I have used both equally and have never had a problem with either method. I would have voted for both if possible.

Macrium for hot images on XP. Microsoft's own hot imaging program on Win7. Both are rock solid.

[tomazyk]

When I make an image of my system (an verify it), I use hot imaging. To restore an image I use cold restoring in preboot environment. I use Acronis True Image.

[chrisretusn]

Guess I can't vote. I use both hot and cold.

[Tomwa]

Originally Posted by Iron Man

What imaging software do you use to make those hot images?

Acronis True Image is my imaging software of choice

[Amit]

Originally Posted by Tomwa

Acronis True Image is my imaging software of choice

Ah I see.

[sukarof]

Originally Posted by Aaron Here

This poll is intended for those who rely on disk-imaging to backup their system drive/partition.

I started by voting for cold-imaging as I believe (without proof) that inherently it's the more reliable method.

Cant say ime that there is any difference. Any imaging software´s weak point is the restore. There is where it most often fails in my experience. Cant say that I ever had any problems with hot imaging (nor cold for that matter)

[nosirrah]

Cold and have never had it fail because I use the correct system, don't ever restore.

For backup do ...

enable B -> cold push A to B -> disable A

next update ...

enable A -> cold push B to A -> disable B


If you ever want to revert to the previous image just enable that drive and copy it over the problem drive.

This way you are always 100% sure you have 2 independently bootable and fully functional OS drives and you don't ever have to worry about a restore going wrong. By disable I mean in BIOS or literally pull the power to that drive, either is fine but pulling the power can also help with drive lifespan.

[Solarlynx]

I use both - Cold (Clonezilla, Acronis) and Hot (Macrium, Lenovo's OneKey Recovery but have never used them to recover. So cannot vote - my choice is I rely on both.

[Feandur]

I use only cold imaging via the Shadow Protect Recovery CD disc to take complete images outside of [before boot up of] windows.

Never use incremental's. All or nothing.

Can't get my head around hot images...although I appreciate Win 7 does and I have used it.

prefer my meat cold.

<Also a "Parted Magic" fanboy!>



feandur